KURDISH NEWS WEEKLY BRIEFING, 24 JUNE – 30 JUNE 2017

NEWS1. KNK continues tour of talks for national unity2. HDP calls on the ECHR to take action for Turkey3. Kürkçü: I call the Assembly to stick to its declaration in 2013 and the Turkish government to find a peaceful way out of the Kurdish Insurgency4. European parliamentarians: Öcalan’s freedom is a must for peace5. Jagland: ECHR launched efforts for jailed journalists in Turkey6. Council of Europe’s Jagland says ‘justice must start working’ in Turkey7. YPJ’s red line: Being present everywhere8. Turkey admits to invasion plan for Efrîn9. U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY MEETS RAQQA CIVIL COUNCIL IN ROJAVA (VIDEO)10. Syrian Kurds send military reinforcements to Aleppo to impede Turkish advance11. Mattis: US arms for Syrian Kurds will continue after Raqqa12. Moments at fire line13. Al-Shadadi women: proud to join Women Asayîş Forces14. Europa Nostra’s Board gives statement on the endangered heritage site of Hasankeyf, Turkey

EVENTS1. Who is Beating Back ISIS in Syria?2. Kurdish Cultural Festival, 30 July 2017 in Quorn

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1. KNK continues tour of talks for national unity30 June/ANF NewsKurdistan National Congress (KNK) delegation visited the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) yesterday in continuation of the diplomatic talks with political parties from all four parts of Kurdistan, in order for the establishment of a joint platform to discuss Kurdish national unity.https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/knk-continues-tour-of-talks-for-national-unity-20717

7. YPJ’s red line: Being present everywhere
29 June/ANF EnglishYPJ Commander Şîlan Cûdî said Raqqa is very important for women and reiterated their historic and current oath for revenge. Cûdî stated that many of the women they liberate join the YPJ and that they have such women in her own battalion as well. Cudî said: “We embrace and liberate women. We don’t push this on them, we don’t force them. We chat with them, we discuss, and most importantly we listen. This, this profile for people and this understanding is new for them. They are very impressed with the YPJ. They say they have been asleep for hundreds of years and they are waking up with the YPJ.”https://anfenglish.com/news/ypj-s-red-line-being-present-everywhere-20711

9. U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY MEETS RAQQA CIVIL COUNCIL IN ROJAVA (VIDEO)
28 June/NRTThe U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State (ISIS), Brett McGurk, met with members and representatives of the Raqqa Civil Council in Rojava [Kurdish controlled areas in northern Syria].http://www.nrttv.com/EN/Details.aspx?Jimare=15294

11. Mattis: US arms for Syrian Kurds will continue after Raqqa
28 June/Military TimesDescribing American reassurances to Turkey that the U.S. will take back weapons given to the Syrian Kurds after the ISIS fight, Mattis said it depends on when or where the next mission is. And he also sounded a cautionary tone when asked if all the weapons would be returned. “We’ll do what we can,” he told reporters traveling with him to Germany. http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/mattis-us-arms-for-syrian-kurds-will-continue-after-raqqa

12. Moments at fire line
24 June/ANHA NewsArmed with iron will, experts at fighting arts, quick to reach their trigger, every fighter realizes what they do, even at breaks, they are eager to learn something new, the way they are attentive to the enemy’s movements says a lot about their bravery and tells much about their iron will.http://en.hawarnews.com/moments-at-fire-line/

13. Al-Shadadi women: proud to join Women Asayîş Forces25 May/ANHA NewsAsayîş members in al-Shadadi town said that they joined Women Asayîş Forces according to the principle” protection is a duty everybody should undertake”, and added that they have resolved on joining the forces to defend their land and protect their own regions, noting that they are proud of their work thanks to the Ocalan philosophy, thought and struggle for women freedom.http://en.hawarnews.com/al-shadadi-women-proud-to-join-women-asayis-forces/

14. Europa Nostra’s Board gives statement on the endangered heritage site of Hasankeyf, Turkey
29 June/EuropanostraThe Board of Europa Nostra, the leading heritage organisation in Europe, made a statement about the Ancient city of Hasankeyf and its surroundings in Turkey, listed among the 7 Most Endangered heritage sites in Europe in 2016, following a nomination by the Cultural Awareness Foundation. In their statement, the Board of Europa Nostra deeply deplores the decision of the Turkish government to build a dam that would lead to the flooding of a site of world significance, without proper and transparent justification and without adequate compensation measures.http://www.europanostra.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/20170629-PR-Hasankeyf-Turkey-EN.pdf

EVENTS1. Who is Beating Back ISIS in Syria?
On 12 July, David’s bookshop, Letchword Garden CityPredominantly Kurdish defence forces, led equally by women and men commanders, are in the forefront of the fight against ISIS. Unnoticed by most of the world and its media, in the middle of a war zone, in Rojava Northern Syria, a radical secular experiment in class and race equality and direct democracy with women in the driving seat is taking place. It could provide a model of governance for the rest of Syria but are its ideas too radical for both its allies and its enemies?https://peaceinkurdistancampaign.com/2017/06/16/whos-beating-back-isis-in-syria/

2. Kurdish Cultural Festival, 30 July 2017 in QuornA great FREE event for all the family, with children’s activities, organised by the General Federation of Trade Unions, Freedom for Ocalan Campaign, Peace in Kurdistan, Kurdish People’s Assembly UK, Kurdish Youth Movement and KNK (Kurdish National Congress) UKhttps://www.evensi.uk/kurdish-cultural-festival-quorn-grange-hotel/210585748

EMERGENCY APPEAL FOR AFRIN

Life in Afrin

Weekly News Briefing

Jeremy Corbyn issues statement of support for the National Demo

Message from Jeremy Corbyn to Kurdish national demonstration in London:
“I’m sorry not to be able to be with you today, but I send a message of solidarity with today’s demonstration, and with the Kurdish people, under sustained attack across the Middle East.
The conflict in Syria has been the trigger for an onslaught against the Kurdish people, who are defending their autonomy and their rights.
We are watching closely the alarming events that have been unfolding in Turkey in recent weeks, including the killing of civilians and destruction of Kurdish homes.
Any negotiated settlement of the Syrian conflict must include peace and justice for the Kurds, including in Turkey. And the Turkish government needs as a matter of urgency to restart the peace process with the Kurds and respect the rights of all its people.
We call for an end to repression of the Kurds and justice for the Kurdish people throughout the Middle East.”

Destruction and Repression in North Kurdistan

Freedom for Ocalan!

On the 19th anniversary of his kidnap and imprisonment by Turkey, we renew our call for Abdullah Ocalan to be freed as part of a peaceful solution to the Kurdish question.